AI Therapists
Artificial Intelligence when used as a replacement for psychotherapy
Accessing mental health care, or any kind of health care is a privilege that many people do not have. There are programs that exist that offer free or low-cost mental health care, but with the AI bubble bubbling, some people have mistakenly turned towards AI chatbots as stand-ins for trained, professional, licensed, human therapists, which has led to some fatal results, as well as a worsening of mental illness in many users.
Exploring the Dangers of AI in Mental Health Care | Stanford HAI
A new Stanford study reveals that AI therapy chatbots may not only lack effectiveness compared to human therapists but could also contribute to harmful stigma and dangerous responses.
Sarah Wells
Meta, Character.AI accused of misrepresenting AI as mental health care: All details here
Meta’s AI Studio and Character.AI have been accused of presenting AI chatbots as real mental health care providers. All you need to know.
Ayushi Jain
AI Therapists Belong In The Back Office, Not The Chair
AI therapists are promising but unsafe. Stanford findings and an Illinois ban show why AI belongs in admin and training — not clinical judgment.
John Samuels
Nevada Enacts New Law To Shut Down The Use Of AI For Mental Health But Sizzling Loopholes Might Exist
Some U.S. states are enacting laws to ban or heavily restrict AI-driven therapy. Nevada has done so. I cover both the good and bad involved. An AI Insider scoop.
Lance Eliot
AI Chatbots Under Fire: Texas Investigates Misleading Claims Of Therapy For Vulnerable Users
Texas AG Ken Paxton investigates Meta AI Studio and Character.AI for misleading children with deceptive mental health chatbots.
J Galt
AI can’t be your therapist: ‘These bots basically tell people exactly what they want to hear,’ psychologist says
On a recent episode of “Speaking of Psychology,” psychologist and researcher C. Vaile Wright explained why AI chatbots can’t replace human relationships.
Gili Malinsky, CNBC
Microsoft boss troubled by rise in reports of ‘AI psychosis’
Mustafa Suleyman said there was still “zero evidence of AI consciousness today”.
Multiple states restricting AI mental health therapy
The state of Illinois earlier this month joined Utah and Nevada in restricting the use of artificial intelligence in mental health therapy. Illinois banned its use, specifically mentioning that AI companies cannot provide services to, “diagnose, treat, or improve an individual’s mental health or behavioral health” unless they are conducted by a licensed physician. Dr. Gail Saltz is an associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell School of Medicine. She joined CBS News to discuss AI therapy.
CBS News
Preliminary Report on Chatbot Iatrogenic Dangers
AI chatbots pose significant mental health risks, often exacerbating issues like suicide, self-harm, and delusions, highlighting urgent regulatory needs.
Allen Frances, MD